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Show Wednesday, April 19, 2006 DAILY HERALD MORNING BRIEFING FAST FACT © Africa's oldest i Sosy oneal Mean Cea sonea be ‘Queen of Sheba, in the fourth century B.C. Source: Micropedia of World Facts Compiled from Daily Herald wire services The WORLD Coalition soldiers kill 5 militants in Afghanistan KABUL, Afghanistan — US. and Afghan soldiers killed five militants during a large-scale. * operation targeting Taliban and al-Qaida fighters in a volatile eastern region near Pakistan, the U.S.military said Tuesday. The renewed violence in Kunar province came as Afghanistan urged neighboring Pakistan to do moreto curb militancy on their shared frontier, drawing an angry rebuke from Islamabad, which has deployed 80,000 soldiers to the region. Two US.soldiers, meanwhile, were wounded whena roadside bomb exploded near their vehiclein the southern Zabul province's Argandabdistrict, military spokesman Lt. Mike Codysaid. Meetingfailed to reach agreementon sanctions MOSCOW — A USS.diplo- matsaid Tuesday that envoys from the five permanent Security Council members plus Germanydiscussed sanctions against Iran overits nuclear program,butfailed to reach an agreementon how to proceed further. U.S. Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns told The Associated Press following nearly three hoursoftalks that diplomatsrecognized the “need for a stiff response to Iran's flagrant violations ofits international responsibilities.” President Bushsaid “all options are on the table” to . prevent Iran from developing atomic weapons butthat he will continue to focus on diplomacy. Israel's leaders blame Hamasfor bombing JERUSALEM Israel's leaders held the Hamas-led Palestin- ian governmentresponsible Tuesday for the deadliest sui- cide bombing in 20 montlis, but decided againsta large-scale military operation in an attempt to avoid escalating violence. Officials said the measured responsewill help preserve a stronginternational front against Hamas andthatIsrael will takeall steps it deems necessary, including assassinating militants, to prevent attacks. TheIslamic Jihad militant groupcarried out Monday’s blast outside a Tel Aviv restaurant, killing 10 people including the bomber and wounding dozens. Although Hamas was notdirectly involved,its leaders defended the attack as a justified response to Israeli military strikes against Palestinian militants. Sectarian clashes eru Baghdad for second BAGHDAD,Iraq — Clashes persisted for a second day Tuesdayin a-Sunni district of BaghdadbetweenIraqi forces and whatappeared to be local militiamen who feared that Shiite death squads hadinfiltrated the community. Assoc Britain's Queen Elizabeth Il, then Princess Elizabeth, stands with her husband Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh,andtheir children Prince Charles and Princess SS Anne at Clarence House,the royalcouple's London residence, in this August 1951 photo. The queen celebrates her 80th birthdayon Friday US, andIraqi troops sealed off streets to the Azamiyah district, and residents reported the area appeared quiet afterclerics broadcast appeals for calm over loudspeakers from the main Sunni mosque.Atleast 13 people died in the two days of fighting, Iraqiofficials said. There wereconflicting re- ports about whattriggered the clashes, which underscored the rising tensions between Shiite and Sunni Muslim communities that threaten to plunge Iraq into civil war. An 80th birthday party fit for a queen Sunday, family memberswill attend a Service of Thanksgiv- televised tribute to his mother; he will also host a birthday dinnerfor her and membersof the eryspring, but newspapcrs said this week's wasthe heaviest since atleast 2001. The Beijing Daily Mess ...,r said 300,000 tonsof sand and dust were morethan 387,700 honors and awards), others are fascinating dumped onthe city Monday (she learned to drive in 1945 Man beingheld as suspect in Natalee Holloway case whenshe joined the army). Saudis arrest 5 suspects linked to attackonoil processing facility said Tuesday. Oneof those arrested is on day, Prince Charles will paya carrying chalkydust from the north Chinaplain hit Beijin« are snoozy(she has conferred ganizations. She is Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II of Great others whocelebrate their 80th birthdays the same day. On Fri- cal Bureau.It did not elaborate. and the bureaurefused to release more information. Storms Windsor Castle to celebrate the queen’s birthday. To mark the event, Buckingham Palace has released 80 facts celebrating the queen's 80 years. While someofthe facts RIYADH, Saudi Arabia — Saudiauthorities arrested five suspectedterrorists linked to February's deadly attack on clude a lunch Wednesdayfor citing the Central Meteorologi- ing at St. George's Chapelin She has launched23ships, sat for 139 official portraits (including one hologram), given out more than 78,000 Christmas puddings andis a patron to more than 620 charities and orBritain, who will celebrate her 80th birthday on Friday. Herbirthday weekwill in- to clear the air, state TVsaid, royal family that evening. On the world’s largest oil processing facility, a security official the country’slist of 36 most- wanted terrorist suspects, the official said on condition of anonymity because he was not GREG BAKER /AssociatedPress Construction workers look at a car that wasleft coated in dust after the worst dust storm in five years in Beijing on Tuesday on Feb. 24. Guards openedfire onthe vehicles and they exploded,killing the two suicide attackers and two guards. Chinato useartificial rain to clear Beijing keep children indoors, state media said Tuesday. The huge storm blewdust far beyond China's borders, blanketing South Korea and reaching Tokyo.The storm, reportedly the worstin atleast facility in eastern Saudi Arabia prompting a health warning to ing to seed clouds to make rain Judge imposes gag order in murder case to end the fierce debate over the long-term effects of what are knownas amalgamfillings, Militants driving twovehicles packed with explosivestried to enter the Abqaiqoil processing and beyondwith yellowgrit, Holloway’s disappearance,the Aruban prosecutor'soffice said Tuesday. The man, identified only byhisinitials, G.V.C., alsois suspected ofdrug offenses. He was scheduled to appear before timesince his arrest artificial rainmakingto clear theair after a choking dust stormcoated China's capital Hedid notidentify that suspect. BEIJING — Beijing will use cion of involvementin Natalee a judge Tuesdayforthefirst five years, hit Beijing overnight Sunday,turning the sky yellow and forcing residents to‘dust off and hose down cars and buildings. The government was prepar- authorized to talk to the media. Soeee Aruba — 19-year-old Dutch manis cing held byauthorities on suspi- "G.V.C.is suspected of criminal offenses related to the that maybe disappearanceof Miss Hollowayand of offenses related to dealing in illegal narcotics.” the prosecutor's office said in briefstatement The NATION PURCELL,Okla. — An Okla- homa judge issued a gag order Tuesday to stop what defense attorneyscalled inflammatory statements about the gruesome slaying of a 10-year-old girl, ducting unethical experiments on children. Michiganprisons released 41 felons early Barger met with prosecution anddefense attorneys before * prisonofficials have found 41 recentcases of felons accused ofviolating their paroles mis- signing the order prohibiting attorneys,investigators and law enforcement authorities from talking publicly about the case. The defense argued that “inflammatory,prejudicial and conclusory statements” about the suspect werefueling widespread coveragein the case. Prosecutorssaid they wouldn't oppose a gag order. Studies find no evidence of harm from mercury CHICAGO Twolong- awaited, government-funded studies found no evidence that dental fillings containing mercury can cause IQ-lowering brain damage or other neurological problems in children. ANDREW NENQUE/Tempie Daily Telegram accused the researchersof con- who prosecutors say was killed by a man who wanted to eat human flesh. Special District Judge Gary Dalton Koch, 6, lamps over his brother Hayden, 4, as they both try to cool down during another unseasonably warm day, Tuesday, in Temple, Texas, where temperaturesin the high 90s are becoming the norm. and some advocatesbitterly h such fillings ely than other oungsters to suffer such prob, the researchers found. Some experts found the findings powerfully reassuring. But the studies are unlikely LANSING, Mich. — Michigan takenly being released because they didn’t get a hearing within 45 daysoftheir arrest, officials said Tuesday Oneof those released was Patrick Alan Selepak, who is now charged withkilling three people after he was wrongly freed. Corrections Department Di- rector Patricia Caruso.told the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that systemic and individual errorsled to the releases. The ‘mentpolicy is to hold si ‘ec parole violators evenif they haven't had a hear- ing within 45days, she said. Temperatures, power demand force tlackouts HOUSTON — Faced with the prospect of another day of record heat, the state's power suppliers urged Texans to cut downon their electricity use in ‘the hopes of avoiding morerolling blackouts. Power companies throughout months but no more than five the state imposed the blackouts yearsapart, researcherssay Mondaybecause ofan electricity shortage during unseason- conclusion after an analysis of Thousands of people were ing morethan1] million preg- ably hot weather. The researchers reached that ci 67 international studies involv- caught withoutelectricity for short periods of time as highs nancies, reached into the low 100s, and police rushed to direct traffic during the afternoon rush hour. Temperatures were expected to return to a more normal budget chief WASHINGTON — Under pressureto revitalize his administration, President Bush reshutfled his economic team Tuesday with a new budget chief who is highly regarded on CapitolHill and promised more changes were coming. turebirths and lowbirth weight The findings suggest that mil- rangein the 70s and 80s today. ‘Bush appointsnew Theanalysis found that: spacing babiestoo close together or too far apart raises the risk of complications such as prema- s, lions ofinfant deaths could be avoided worldwide with better familyplanning, said co-author Dr. Agustin Conde-Agudelo of Santa Fe de Bogota Foundation in Colombia. Moussaoui’s mental health debated in court ALEXANDRIA, Va. — The defense portrayed Zacarias Moussaouiasa delusional psy- Healso named a new trade representative. Bushchose Rob Portman, a former six-term Republican congressman from Ohio who now servesas trade representative, to head the Office of Managementand Budget, putting him at the heart of White House decision-making. chotic Tuesday whoreversed tactics and strategyconstantly, while a prosecutor pointed out Wait at least 18 months between pregnancies crazy? Thatis the question.” CHICAGO — Women can their pregnancies at least 18 how well the confessed Sept. 11 conspirator has controlled his behavior underthe stress of being ontrialforhis life. Moussaoui himself best captured the dayin oneofhis shouted commentson leaving court for a break: “Crazyor not Defense attorney Gerald Zerkinset the day on a course few juries have seen: He opened the defense team’sfiles to show how they concluded their own client cannot be believed. |